On the evening of January 31, 2017, a male named Lawrence Williams, IV, a recent graduate of Edna Karr High School, was fatally shot in New Orleans. The violence erupted shortly after a basketball game at his alma mater. Williams was in a car with Wynston Jackson in front of the school when they were ambushed. Assailants approached the vehicle armed with two rifles and a handgun, unleashing a barrage of bullets.
Jackson was killed at the scene, while Williams was gravely wounded and succumbed to his injuries later at a hospital.
The investigation into the double homicide revealed a connection to gang rivalry. Jackson was identified as a member of the Ghost Gang, and Williams was an associate. The shooting was orchestrated by members of the rival Byrd Gang. Authorities determined that a female member of the Byrd Gang, Briyan Love, had attended the basketball game and spotted Jackson. She then contacted her fellow gang members to alert them of his presence. In response, several Byrd Gang members and their associates drove to the school with the intention of killing Jackson.
Three men, Terran Williams, also known as 'Funky,' Tyrone Bovia, known as 'Sixx,' and Javonta Doleman, aliased as 'Dutt,' were identified as the gunmen. These individuals were active members of the Byrd Gang, which was involved in drug trafficking and other violent crimes, primarily operating out of the former Magnolia Housing Development with ties to the Westbank. The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the FBI's New Orleans Gang Task Force and the New Orleans Police Department, among other law enforcement agencies.
In April 2025, after a two-week jury trial, Terran Williams, Tyrone Bovia, and Javonta Doleman were found guilty of a range of federal offenses. The charges included Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations conspiracy, drug trafficking conspiracy, firearms conspiracy, and Violent Crime in Aid of Racketeering murder. The convictions brought a measure of resolution to the violent deaths of Lawrence Williams, IV, and Wynston Jackson, highlighting the deadly consequences of gang warfare in the city.
